Valve



Dec. 23, 19.41. p 4 BETZ 2,267,347

VALVE.

Filed OCT.. 14, 1958 Patented Dec. 23,1941

VALVE Paul L. Betz, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Consolidated GasElectric Light and Power Company of Baltimore, Baltimore, Md., avcorporation of Maryland Application October 14, 1938, Serial No.235,109.

2 Claims.

This invention relates to valve mechanism for regulating the flow of afluid in accordance with reyiuirements and particularly to the provisionof automatic means for rendering said control inoperative andmaintaining the valve closed whenever some particular abnormal conditionexists.

Many types of valve mechanism haveV been proposed heretofore forregulating the flow of a fluid in accordance with requirements, as forexample the automatic regulation of the supply of a fuel such as gas inaccordance with .the need or demand for heat. In some .cases it isdesirable in the event of an abnormal condition to interrupt the normaloperation of the valve, but in such a manner that normal operation canreadily be reestablished atthe proper time. It

is also frequently the casein some systems that an -abnormal conditionmay arise, such as the failure' of a pilot, 'under which it is desirablefor safety or other reasons to stop the now of uid completely until theabnormal condition is corrected.v For the latter purpose it has beenproposed to' employ a second valve mechanism with a suitable automaticcontrol such that the valve closes when such an abnormal conditionexists and is then opened either automatically or manually 'after properconditions have been reestablished. A g

It is an object of the present invention to provide novelvalve-operating means whereby the normal operation of the valve in anydesired manner may be interrupted and restored readily' wheneverrequired.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby theabove functions of a regulatory valve and of a shut-off valve may beVcombined in a single valve.

Another object is `to provide a single valve under dual automaticcontrol such that said valve normally operates as a regulating valve butalso operates as a shut-off valve under abnormal conditions. l

A further object is to provide novel valve control mechanism wherein thenormal automatically controlled valveeoperating means are renderedinoperative'by afsecondautomatic control responsive to an Aabnormalcondition.

Another object is to accomplish the above .-re r suits by a simple,inexpensive mechanism having few parts .but eective and reliablein'operatien.

Another -object is to provide a novel mech.

anism comprisingV a core for holding an armature by magnetic attraction,said core being` -freely movable within a 'stationary electromagnetwinding for the purpose of effectingan operation such as indicatedabove.

Other objects will appear hereinafter as the description proceeds. f

One embodiment-of the invention lhas been illustrated in theaccompanying drawing but it is to be expressly understood `that Ysaiddrawing is for purposes of illustration only and is not to be taken as adenition of` the limits of the invention, reference being had totheappended claims for this purpose.

In said drawing:

Fig 1 is a sectional viewI of one form of valve mechanism embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View illustrating a suitable way of using theapparatus shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a partl of` the mechanism of Fig.1.

Broadly stated, valve mechanism embodying the invention comprises asingle valve and suitable operating' means therefor which are controlledin any suitableinanner, usually automatically, so as to .regulate theilow of fluid past thev valve, Said operating means com -l priseselements which are normally connected so as t'o cause the desiredregulatory movement of the valve, but in order that said valve may alsoserve as aA shut-off in the event of'an abnormal condition, saidelements are capable 'of separation in .such a manner as to permit thevalve to close independently ot its normal control. Said separableelements are accordingly maintained normally in valve-operatingconnection or Aengagement by means which, in the event of an abnormalcondition or conditions, cause or permit separation of said elements,whereupon the valve is `adapted to close and act as a shut-off valveuntil'said operating connection is `reestablished either automaticallyor manually.

These broad aspects of the invention will be better understood byreference to Fig. 3 which shows by wayA of illustration one form ofappa- Y ratus suitable to `accomplish these results. In this figure thevalve (not-shown) is operated either directly or in any suitable mannerIby a rod I-carrying an armature `2 which is normally attracted by andheld in contact with the poles of a horseshoe magnet 3. So long as theermature 2 and magnet 3 remain in engagement, regulatory motion can betransmitted to the `valve fromlanysuitable control means. The magnet 3is energized by a coil dfwhich is-stationarily mounted and as shownloosely surrounds one leg of the magnet, suicient free space beingprovided to allow the magnet to move freely back and forth relative tothe coil. Ii greater holding force is desired, two coils may be used,one surrounding each leg of the magnet. As long as the coil 4 remainsenergized, it will be seen that the rod I, amature 2 and magnet 3constitute in effect an integral operating connection for the valve.Should the coil 4 be deenergized, however, a s in the event of someabnormal condition, the magnet 3 no longer attracts the armature 2 andthe valve is therefore free to close in any suitable manner andindependently of the normal regulatory control thereof, the magnet 3continuing to move without aiecting the armature. When the coil 4 isagain energized, it is only necessary to bring the armature 2 in contactwith the poles oi' the magnet whereupon the valve operating connectionis reestablished.

Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in connection--withcontrolling the flow of gas to a gas burneralthough it will beunderstood that the invention is not restricted to this particularembodiment orguse. In Fig. l, the valve casing 5 is provided with twocompartments or chambers 6 and 1 separated by. a partition 8 in which isan opening 9. Gas enters th'e compartment 6 through an inlet pipe I0,passes through the opening 9 into the compartment 1 and leaves thelatter through an outlet pipe II. 'Ihe flow of gas is controlled by avalve I2 adapted to seat against the partition 8 and to close theopening 9. Preferably and as shown, th'e valve is biased or urged towardclosed position in any suitable manner as by a spring I3 surp roundingthe valve stem I4. The movement of the valve may be guided in any'suitable manner, as by passage of said valve stem through an opening I5in a partition I6. i

Said partition I 8 forms a third compartmen or chamber I1 in the valvecasing which houses valve-operating means embodying the constructiondescribed above in connection with Fig. 3. A magnetic armature I8 issuitably mounted on th'e end of the valve stem I4, said armaturepreferably having a minimum lateral dimension equal to or greater thanrthe distance between the pole pieces of the magnet, in order that thevanguiar position of the armature will not affect its cooperation withthe magnet, and preferably being circular in Ashape as shown in Fig. 3.Preferably said armature is suitably mounted on the valve stem in such amanner as to permit some freedom of inclination relative to the axis ofthe Ivalve stem in order to insure that-the armature will properlycontact both poles of the Amagnet without the necessity for accuratealignment of the valve stem.

'I'he magnet I9 is energizedby a coil 20 loosely surrounding one leg ofthe ma et' as above described, said coil preferably eing stationarilymounted in the casing in any suitable manner and the magnet I9 beingmounted for movement relative to the coil in any suitable manner. Ashere shown the magnet is suitably connected to a supporting and guidingmember 2I having a recess 22 in which extends a post 23 that is securedto the casing in any suitable manner as by the screw 24. I'he recess V22and post 23 may have any suitable cross sectional form to preventtwisting or turning of the magnet I9 While permitting longitudinalmovement of said magnet which may be effected by any suitable means inaccordance with requirements. As here shown th'e position of thev magnetI9 is controlled by a finger 25 capable of movement betweenthe full lineposition and the dotted line position 25.

With this construction it will be seen that when the coil 20 isenergized and the armature I8 is in contact with the magnet I9, the nger25 in its full line position will hold the magnet I9 and th'e valve I2to the right to permit' the flow of gas through the opening 9. It willbe observed that in the extreme right-hand position of the magnet shownin Fig. 1, the poles project to the left beyond the coil 20 so that saidcoil at no' time interferes with the engagement of the armature I8 withsaid magnet. When the nger 25 moves to the left toward its dotted lineposition, the valve I2, armature I8 and magnet I9 likewise move to theleft. under the iniluence of the spring I3. Accordingly the valvenormally moves toward or away from closed position depending upon themovement of the iinger 25 and the position of the valve. can th'us beautomatically controlled to eilect regulation of the amount of gas owingthrough the valve casing.

Should coil 20 be deenergized, however, the armature I8 is no longerattracted by the magnet I9 so 4that the valve I2 is moved to andmaintained in closed position by the spring I3 independently of theposition of th'e magnet I9. In order to reestablish the normal operatingconnections for the valve 'I2 it is necessary to reenergize the coil 20and also to bring the armature I8 and the poles of the magnet I9 intocontact. lThe latter can be effected by moving oneV of said elementsinto engagement with the other either. automatically or manually as maybe desired. In Fig. l manual means are shown for this purpose, saidmeans comprising a push rod 21 passing through a suitable stuffing box28 in the valve casing andnormally maintained in the outward positionshown in Fig. 1 by a spring 29 engaging a push button 30 on the outerend yoi' said rod. Outward`movement of said rod is suitably limited asby engagement of a collar 3l on the rod with the inner end of the stuingbox and said collar 3I may comprise a. valve member that 'cooperateswith' a seat surrounding push rod 21, so as to effect agas-tightseal'when in the position shown of using the apparatus of Fig. 1 in agas heating system. Gas leaving the valve casing by way of the outletpipe II is supplied to a burner 34 provided with a continuouslyoperating pilot flame 35 supplied by a pipe 36. The position of thevalve I2 is controlled by any suitable thermostatic. means'in accordancewith th'e demand for heat from the burner 34. As here showndiagrammatically, Aa thermostat of the graduating type is illustrated,but it should be understood that the present invention may be applied toany type of controlidevice. In Fig. 2 finger 25 may be operated by abellows thermostat 31 having a bulb 38 disposed in the medium to beheated and connected with' the iinger 25 by means of a connecting link39. The coil 29 is connected by wires 40 with a thermncouple 4I`arranged so as to be subject to the `son,the thermocouple 4I will heatof the pilot ilame 35. As long as the pilot flame is burning, thethermocouple Il energizes the coil so that `the amature is attracted bythe magnet and the position of said valve is regulated automatically bythe thermostat 31. Should the pilot flame 35 go out for any reacool oiland the coil 2l) will be deenergized. Armature I8 will no longer beattracted by magnet I9 and the valve l2 will close under the inuence ofthe spring I3. The valvewill then act as a safety shut-ofi valve,preventing the flow oi gas to the burner 34 regardless of the demand forheat from the burner. Normal automatic operation of the valve can onlybe reestablished by lighting the pilot 35 to energize the coil 20 andthen by. operating the push button as above described.

It will be seen that the invention provides means whereby the normalvalve operating connections may be interrupted at will or automaticallyas required, but yet may readily'be reestablished and normal operationrestored with facility. 1 .l

In the embodiment more particularly described above, it will be observedthat -the single valve has the functions of both a regulating valve anda shut-off valve. Normally said valve is regulated automatically tocontrol the ow of fuel in accordancewith requirements, this regulationbeing effected through operating connections including separableelements which are normally maintained inoperative connection orengagement.v When an abnormal condition exists, however, said elementsare caused or permitted to separate, thereby breaking the operatingconnections to the valve' and causing or permitting the valve to closeand operate as a safety shut-off independently of the normal automaticcontrol. As long as the abnormal condition exists, the

Changes may be made in the form, details of'` construction andarrangement of the parts, and other types of controls may be substitutedfor those illustrated and described, without departing from the spiritof the invention. Many other uses of apparatus embodying the inventionwill also readily occur to those skilled in the art, and reference isaccordingly to be had to the appended claims for a definition of thelimitsof the invention. What is claimed is:

l. In a combination thermostat and safety shut-off device forcontrolling a gas burner, a stationary electromagnet winding adapted tobe energized by a thermocouple subjected to the heat of a gas flame, avalve for controlling the energized to close said valve independently ofthe valve can not be operated through the normal automatic control, butas soon as the abnormal condition is corrected, the normal operatingconnections can readily be reestablished and the valve resumes itsnormal operation.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been described andillustrated in the drawing it isto be ,expressly understood that theinvention is not limited to this embodiment or to 'the particular usethereof which. has been described .above for purposes ofillustration.

supply of fuel to the gas burner, means Abiasing said valve to closedposition, a thermostat for controlling the position of said valve, andvalveoperating connections interposed vbetween said valve andthermostat, said connections comprising an electromagnet -core freelymovable relatively to said winding and an armature which is held inoperative, relationship with said core by magnetic attraction when saidwinding is energized, said amature and core being separated by saidbiasing means when said winding is deposition of said thermostat.

2. In a combination thermostat and safety` shut-oil' device forcontrolling a 'gas burner, a

valve casing having a valve therein for controlling the supply of fuelto the gas burner, a valve stem and a magnetic armature carried thereby,an Aelectromagnet core aligned with said valve stem and adapted toengage said armature, a stationay electromagnet winding adapted to been'- ergized by a thermocouple subjected to the heat of a gas flame,sa'id core being freely movable relatively to said winding, and saidcore and` armature being held together by vmagnetic at'- traction andmoving longitudinally withq said valve as a unit when said winding isenergized,

a thermostat for moving said core and controlling the position of saidunit, means moving said valve and armature to closed positionindependently of said core when said winding is deenergized, and.manually operable means for opening said valve and moving said armatureinto engagement with said core.

PAUL L. BETZ.

